I'm currently setting up a flight from KMCO to KPNS and on the Taxi chart at KPNS it says this "Black Hole illusion exists during approach to Rwy 26 at Night"

Having never heard of this terminology a quick google says this "The black hole illusion, sometimes called the featureless terrain illusion, fools pilots into thinking they are higher than they actually are, causing them to fly dangerously low approaches."

Link here to more info - https://skybrary.aero/articles/night-visual-approaches

This is why I love aviation and flight simming, always stuff to learn.  🙂

To further elaborate on the interesting phenomenon of night flying: there is also the ' black hole departure' illusion. It occurs when you depart an illuminated runway in remote areas and shortly after you lose any visual references / horizon (because it is now pitch black and no city lights to help you) . This can easily lead to vertigo/disorientation. 

Remedy is obviously to transition to instruments as soon as suitable.😎

Edited December 23, 20214 yr by SAS443

I experienced this with a CFI during my PPL training. Did some touch and goes into an airport in South Florida at night, and the approach was devoid of any lights at all except the runway. Pretty scary.

Happened to these folks a few year's ago : https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/ntsb-releases-report-on-lake-erie-plane-crash-that-killed-6/95-566032576